Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

James Martin

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Mount Moriah Cemetery
VA Plot 2-24-5

Born:1826 at Derry, Ireland

Entered
Service in the US Marine Corps from Pennsylvania

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism
August 05, 1864 at Mobile Bay, AL

Died:October
29, 1895 at the age of 69

On August 5,
Union Admiral David Farragut's Union fleet of eighteen ships
entered Mobile Bay, Alabama, and received a devastating fire
from Forts Gaines and Morgan and other points. His wooden ships
fought valiantly under this devastating fire as well as shells
from the rebel gunboats and the ironclad ram Tennessee. After
passing the forts, Farragut forced the Confederate naval forces
under Admiral Buchanan, to surrender, along with the prized ram
Tennessee. Fort Morgan was destroyed and this action effectively
closed Mobile Bay as a Confederate port, making the action one
of the greatest Naval victories of the war. Ninety sailors and
eight Marines were awarded Medals of Honor, the most for any
single day in history. Twenty-nine crewmen of the U.S.S.
Richmond were numbered among these heroes, including Marine
Sergeant James Martin, who served as captain of a gun. Despite
damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy
fire raked her decks, Sergeant Martin fought his gun with skill
and courage throughout a furious two-hour battle.